# A 26-year-old treads to preserve lives and construct a stable economy

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/10/26-year-person-walks-for-people-poverty-live/
- Published: 2011-10-26T02:27:48-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

Last week, [The Paradigm Project](https://www.theparadigmproject.org/) concluded
a 10-day trek. That’s from San Diego to Los Angeles to pay homage to the 3 billion
people. Those who still cook with an open flame. Lower respiratory illnesses caused
by open fire cooking. For it is the number one killer of kids under the age of 5.
Moreover, it takes the lives of over 2 million women yearly.

![Changing stoves](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/
03/498503C3-ABA3-4714-AF6F-8E3F9018DDB8.jpeg?resize=300%2C200&quality=52&ssl=1)

## Overview

The Paradigm Project was designed with the intention to help people eliminate poverty
through the utilization of a live business. That’s as an instrument for social benefit.
We are a social company that collaborates with donors and financiers to formulate
business models that offer social, economic and ecological benefit to developing
countries. We are pioneering a different approach to poverty reduction by connecting
people like you to make real progress, long-term sustainability and giving individuals
the potential to pull themselves out of destitution rather than attempting to do
it for them.

Using donations, grants, social investment and low-interest debt. So they invest
in people and new concepts that can have a beneficial effect on poverty at the lower
end of the economic scale. Rather than acting on behalf of those they seek to help.
For they invest in them and their companies instead of providing charity. This approach
leads to more sustainable solutions that expand over time without needing continual
external funding.

This expedition that spanned ten days, no matter the weather, was captured in an
emotional [video](https://vimeo.com/30545326).

### Why we need to eradicate poverty

When we think of poverty, we usually think of the people whose income is below the
poverty threshold. I mean or people with low-income in developing countries.

### However, poverty is not just a developing world problem; it is a worldwide issue.

An estimated two-thirds of the world’s population lives on less than $10 per day.
Many of them are women, children and people living in rural areas.

They do not have access to basic services and often do not have access to clean 
water. All which leads to an increased risk for illnesses. Do that’s such as diarrhea,
respiratory diseases and malnutrition.

In fact, during the last 40 years, the percentage of people living in extreme poverty
has remained largely unchanged. All the while, our developing world has grown from
45% of the global population to over 50% today.

### Fragile Environments

People who live in fragile environments such as rural villages, slums and refugee
camps are most vulnerable to these types of diseases. If left untreated, respiratory
illnesses can cause death; diarrhoea can lead to life-threatening dehydration and
malnutrition can result in permanent brain damage.

## These are preventable diseases.

The key to ending poverty is investing in people and their communities with sustainable
solutions as opposed to providing charity, which often fails to provide lasting 
solutions.

![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641?
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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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